Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



Y 2 Sheets-Sh eet 2'. A. KRUPP.

Bre gch-Loading Ordnance. No. 43, 20. I Patented Aug. 9, 18%;

;..----x N. I

line 3 y, Fig. 1.

' to prevent windage.

ALFRED KRUPI, or ESSEN, rnUssrA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,20, dated August 9, 1864. v

.To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, ALFRED KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech- Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal centra section of my invention, the line 00 00, Fig. 2, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical section of the same, the breech of the barrel being open ready to receive the charge, taken in the plane indicated by the Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same with the breech-block removed, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2 c, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached end elevation of the flanged expansion-washer calculated Fig. 5 is a sectional plan or top view of the breech-block detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which the breech is closed by a breech-block sliding transversely across the bore of the barrel.

This invention consists in the employment or use of a valve and screw, in combination with the transversely-sliding breech-block, in such a manner that when the breech-block is inposition, by turning the screw, the valve is set up tight against the end of the barrel and a perfect joint between the breech-block and barrel is effected. The invention consists, also, in a notched socket in the inner surface of the breech-block, in combination with a flanged expansion-washer, the stem of which fits into said notched socket, and can be locked thereon by a suitable bolt or other equivalent device in such a manner that said flanged expansionwasher will move in and out with the breechblock, requiring no separate handling, and when said washer is worn out it can be easily removed and replaced without loss of time.

A represents the barrel of a cannon or other ii re-arm, the breech of which is provided with a mortise, a, extending transversely across the bore of the gun, as clearly shown inFig. 3 of the drawings. This mortise serves to receive a breech-block, B, which is made tapering or wedgeshaped, and it is provided with ribs or tongues b, to fit into corresponding grooves in the interior of the mortise a. From the outer surface of the breech-block rises a tubular projection, O, which is bored out and tapped to receive the screw D. The interior part of this screw is provided with a shoulder, c, which forms a stop to prevent the screw from being turned back beyond the desired point. A handle, E, secured to the outer end of the screw D, serves to rotate the same in either direction. The screw D is perforated with a centralhole, to receive the stem d of the valve F, the face of which bears firmly against the inner surface of the mortise a and closes the breech end of the barrel, if the screwis turned in. The valveseat 6 around the bore of the barrel is slightly raised above the inner surface of the mortise,

so that only the comparatively small surface of said valveseat has to be ground even and kept smooth and clean, instead of the whole inner surface of the mortise,'and, furthermore, the recess f around the valve-seat forms a re ceptacle for impurities and the fouling of the valve is avoided. The valve is drawn up against the inner end of the screw D by means of a spring, g, which surrounds thevalve-stem and bears against a shoulder in the central hole of the screw on one end and against a sleeve, 71, which is secured to the end'of the valve-stem by a wedge, 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. By this arrangement the valve is compelled to move in either direction with the screw, and ahandle, 70, serves to impart to the valve a rotary motion independent of the screw for the purpose of cleaning off its face and the valve-seat whenever it shall be desirable.

In order to prevent windage and render the joint between the valve and the barrel absolutely air or gas tight, a flanged expansionwasher, G, is attached to the face of the valve.

' This washer is slightly tapering, and by screwing the valve up against its seat after the charge has been introduced it (the washer) is forced into the breech end of the barrel, pushing the cartridge before it, and when the charge is exploded the force of the explosion expands the flange or rim of the washer and crowds the same against the rim or surface of the barrel. The washer is provided with a shank, l, which fits into a socket,'m, in the 2 emu face of the valve F. Said shank is provided with four (more or less) projections, n, which correspond in number, position, and shape to a series of notches springing from the socket in the face of the valve, so that by inserting the shank in its socket and turning it slightly round the washer is secured to the valve, and cannot be taken off until by turning the washer the projections of the shank Z are brought opposite the notches in the socket.

To prevent the shank lfrom turning spontaneously, a bolt, 0, is inserted through a groove cut in a longitudinal direction in the valve-stem, and this bolt is held in its place by a spring, attachedto the handle k, and catching in a notch in the bolt. If the bolt 0 is withdrawn, the washer can be turned so that the projections on its shank register with the notches in the socket, and that it can be taken out and replaced in' case it should be worn out or otherwise damaged.

A spring-catch, H, passing up through the solid part of the barrel, catches the notches r 'r in the breech-block and prevents the same from being moved too far in either direction.

If by some accident the breech-block should become wedged in so tight that it cannot be withdrawn by hand, the lever I is raised, and. by the pressure of the toe formed by the end of this lever 011 the side of the barrel the wedge claim the expansive washer, such having been previously used and described in Letters Patent granted to E. S. Wright and Th. 1 Gould, December 14, 1858; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The valve F and screw D, in combination with the transversely-sliding breech-block B. constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein speci- 2. The notched socket min the breech-block, in combination with the expansion-washer G, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALFRED KRUPP.

\Vitnesses;

O. E. RICHTER, 0. STAMM. 

